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first pops up in official records in the 1640s.
Before that, explorer John Smith rather
fancifully called the area "Tragabigzanda."
Earlier yet, in 1606, one of the first maps of the
region used the name "le Beau port," French
for "the beautiful harbor." And well before
any Europeans named the land, indigenous
peoples lived here for thousands of years,
using their own language to describe the
places and terrain.
It is that history—all of it—that is
being honored and celebrated this year, as
Gloucester undertakes a yearlong observation
of the 400th anniversary of European
settlement, and the rich history that unfurled
before and since. at means delving into
indigenous history, but also looking at the
Gloucester 400+ celebrates all
aspects of Gloucester—from
its working waterfront to its
downtown shopping district.
e name
"Gloucester"
PHOTOGRAPHS
BY SHUTTERSTOCK AND ADOBE STOCK,
BY SHAWN HENRY (TOP LEFT)
